Chapter 41
+15 BONUS
I floored the gas pedal, my heart racing as fast as the engine beneath me. The longer I took, the more I feared that Cameron might harm Jessica. If he was involved in drug trafficking, it meant he was capable of anything. His heart was as dark as they came, and all I could do was pray that Jessica would still be fine when I got there.
As I approached, I could see Cameron waiting in a secluded corner of the parking lot. Cigarette butts littered the ground at his feet, a clear sign he had been waiting for a while.
When he heard my approach, he looked up. The dim, flickering lights of the lot illuminated his gaunt face. His eyes were bloodshot, deep red veins webbing across his pupils, as if he hadn’t slept in days.
I stopped about 200 feet away from him. He stood there with his hands in his pockets, his head lowered, watching
me
“What’s wrong, Sebastian? A big, tough guy like you scared to come closer?” he taunted, his voice dripping with mockery.
I didn’t move, keeping my distance as I asked the only question that mattered, “Where’s Jessica?”
Cameron’s lips curled into a twisted smile as he laughed.
“You’re pathetic,” he sneered, flicking his cigarette at me.“She treated you like dirt, yet you’re still here to save her?”
From behind a beat–up car, he yanked Jessica into view. She was bound tightly, her face pale with fear. He ripped. the tape off her mouth.
The moment Jessica saw me, she cried out, “Seb! Help me!”
Cameron’s laughter grew louder, his amusement cruel. “A love story, huh? How touching. You two really are the perfect pair. Since you two have such a nice bond, I’ll make sure you accompany each other on the way down to hell.”
Panic surged in my chest.
Worried he might do something rash, I hurriedly shouted, Are you crazy, Cameron? Kidnapping is bad enough, but if you take another life, you’re signing your own death warrant!”
“Is that so?” he said dismissively. “Compared to that, I’m more interested in seeing how you and Jessica will look as you both di
in front of me. Besides, I’ll have you two for company on the road to hell. It won’t be a lonely. journey!”
Cameron was completely unhinged. He pulled a gun from inside his jacket and pressed its cold metal against Jessica’s forehead.
“For example… what do you think your face will look like when I pull this trigger?”
“Cameron!”
My voice shook as I tried to keep it together.
the
He closed his eyes for a moment, the tension hanging thick in the air. Just as his finger moved to the trigger, sound of sirens sliced through the night. Before Cameron could react, several SWAT officers appeared behind him. Quick as a flash, he spun out of their line of sight.
“Nobody move!” he shouted, then looked at Jessica.
“Jess, If I had the choice… I wouldn’t have left to go overse five years ago. Back then, I was so insecure. I didn’t
1/2
+15 BONUS
Chapter 41
think
I was good enough for you. I wanted to prove to your family that I could make something of myself. I thought if I worked hard enough, I’d make a fortune…”
He laughed, his eyes suddenly brimming with tears.
“Jess… be happy, okay?“/
Before I could react, Cameron raised the gun to his own head.
A single shot rang out.
Blood spread across the ground in a steady flow, a stark contrast to the dark pavement, the red so blinding it seemed to pulse.
Jessica collapsed, her legs giving out beneath her. I rushed to her and untied the ropes that bound her. Once she was free, she suddenly threw herself into my arms.
As I instinctively resisted, I looked up to see Selena slowly walking toward us. A thought suddenly entered my mind, and I wrapped my arms around Jessica, who was sobbing in my embrace.
